In the day's glorious walk, or peaceful night, (The tomb where grief should sleep,) can breed me quiet! Here pleasures court mine eyes, and mine eyes shun them, And danger, which I feared, is at Antioch, Whose arm seems far too short to hit me here; If he suspect I may dishonor him. And what may make him blush in being known, (Who am3 no more but as the tops of trees, 1 Lord. Joy and all comfort in your sacred breast! 2 Lord. And keep your mind, till you return to us, Peaceful and comfortable! 1 Him was supplied by Rowe for the sake of the metre. 2 Old copies : "And with the stent of war will look so huge." The emendation was suggested by Mr. Tyrwhitt. 3 The old copy reads, "Who once no more," &c. The emendation is by Steevens. Malone reads, "Who wants no more," &c. Hel. Peace, peace, my lords, and give experience tongue. They do abuse the king that flatter him; For flattery is the bellows blows up sin; The thing the which is flattered, but a spark, To which that breath gives heat and stronger glowing; Whereas reproof, obedient, and in order, Fits kings, as they are men, for they may err. Per. All leave us else; but let your cares o'erlook What shipping, and what lading's in our haven, And then return to us. [Exeunt Lords.] Helicanus, thou Hast moved us; what seest thou in our looks? Per. If there be such a dart in princes' frowns, They have their nourishment? Per. To take thy life. Thou know'st I have power Hel. [Kneeling.] I have ground the axe myself; Do you but strike the blow. Per. Rise, pr'ythee rise ; Sit down, sit down; thou art no flatterer. I thank thee for it; and high Heaven forbid, That kings should let their ears hear their faults hid! Fit counsellor, and servant for a prince, Who by thy wisdom mak'st a prince thy servant, Hel. With patience bear Such griefs as you do lay upon yourself. Per. Thou speak'st like a physician, Helicanus; 1 i. e. the breath of flattery. The word spark was here accidentally repeated by the compositor in the old copy. Who minister'st a potion unto me, That thou wouldst tremble to receive thyself. Where, as thou know'st, against the face of death, 'Tis time to fear when tyrants seem to kiss. Who seemed my good protector; and being here, ope, To lop that doubt, he'll fill this land with arms, And make pretence of wrong that I have done him. Must feel war's blow, who spares not innocence; Which love to all (of which thyself art one, Who now reprov'st me for it) Hel. Alas, sir! Per. Drew sleep out of mine eyes, blood from my cheeks, Musings into my mind, a thousand doubts How I might stop this tempest, ere it came; 1 "From whence I might propagate an issue that are arms," &c. Steevens reads: "Bring arms to princes, and to subjects joys." 2 To smooth is to soothe, coax, or flatter. 3 The quarto of 1609 reads, "And should he doot," &c.; from which the reading of the text has been formed. And finding little comfort to relieve them, I thought it princely charity to grieve them.1 Hel. Well, my lord, since you have given me leave to speak, Freely I'll speak. Antiochus you fear, And justly too, I think, you fear the tyrant, Therefore, my lord, go travel for a while, Day serves not light more faithful than I'll be. But should he wrong my liberties in absence- Per. Tyre, I now look from thee, then, and to Intend my travel, where I'll hear from thee; On thee I lay, whose wisdom's strength can bear it. [Exeunt. SCENE III. Tyre. An Antechamber in the Palace. Enter THALIard. Thal. So, this is Tyre, and this is the court. Here must I kill king Pericles; and if I do not, I am sure to 1 That is, to lament their fate. The first quarto reads, "to grieve for them." 2 i.e. in our different spheres. 3 Overcome. be hanged at home; 'tis dangerous.-Well, I perceive he was a wise fellow, and had good discretion, that being bid to ask what he would of the king, desired he might know none of his secrets. Now do I see he had some reason for it; for if a king bid a man be a villain, he is bound by the indenture of his oath to be one.-Hush, here come the lords of Tyre. Enter HELICANUS, ESCANES, and other Lords. Hel. You shall not need, my fellow peers of Tyre, Hel. If further yet you will be satisfied, Thal. What from Antioch? [Aside. [Aside. Hel. Royal Antiochus (on what cause I know not) Took some displeasure at him; at least he judged so; [Aside. I shall not be hanged now, although I would; 1 Who this wise fellow was, may be known from the following passage in Barnabie Riche's Souldier's Wishe to Briton's Welfare, or Captaine Skill and Captaine Pill, 1604, p. 27:-"I will therefore commende the poet Philipides, who being demaunded by king Lisimachus, what favour he might doe unto him for that he loved him, made this answere to the king That your majesty would never impart unto me any of your secrets.” " 2 The old copy reads: "But since he's gone the king's seas must please: The emendation is by Dr. Percy. VOL. VI. 56 |